ESSAY IV 



Characters of eminent Men ; with a Ca-^ 

 TALOGUE OF SiR HANS S L O A N Fs 

 Museum, and other Natural Curiosi- 

 ties. 



C H A P. I. 



TOURING the time of the publication of 

 my Hiftory of Birds, I had the great ho- 

 nour, happinefs, and pleafure of being patro- 

 nized by four gentlemen, who were, perhaps, 

 the greateft promoters of learning, fcience, and 

 arts, of any in the prefent age. — The firft of 

 thefe gentlemen was the late Moft Noble Duke of 

 Richmond -, noble in his lineage and defcent 

 from the royal houfe of thefe kingdoms, but 



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